SaaS Business Podcast

In this episode of the SaaS Business Podcast, Ron Gaver’s guest is Dave Koslow, co-founder of DocSend. Dave and Ron discuss how Dave and his co-founders discovered the problem that led to the creation of DocSend, a document sharing and monitoring tool. Dave details the various ways DocSend provides users with seamless, real-time feedback, listing its advantages over tools like email attachments and screen-sharing programs. This, in turn, opens a conversation about promoting asynchronous communication for business success and how businesses can use DocSend to bridge the communication divide separating them from their clients.

Along the way, Dave discusses opportunities and pitfalls for early-phase startups doing product research and design.

Episode Outline

Click any timestamp on the website to start listening at the noted time.

• [spp-timestamp time=”00:00″] Intro
• [spp-timestamp time=”02:24″] Attachments and the Failure of Transparent Communication
• [spp-timestamp time=”05:15″] Purpose-Built Platform for Data Sharing
• [spp-timestamp time=”06:11″] External Communication Beyond Shared Content
• [spp-timestamp time=”08:39″] Using DocSend to Study the Effectiveness of Pitch Deck Slides
• [spp-timestamp time=”09:08″] Using DocSend with Your Existing Documents
• [spp-timestamp time=”10:11″] Raising Funds with DocSend
• [spp-timestamp time=”11:53″] Investors Value a Solid Startup Team
• [spp-timestamp time=”12:43″] DocSend’s Study of Sequoia Capital’s Recommended Pitch Deck Slides
• [spp-timestamp time=”13:19″] Using DocSend for Lead Capture
• [spp-timestamp time=”14:55″] Using Lead Capture for Organizational Mapping and Networking
• [spp-timestamp time=”16:35″] What Happens to Your Documents after You Hit Send?
• [spp-timestamp time=”17:36″] How Are Attachments Performing?
• [spp-timestamp time=”18:17″] Using DocSend to Evaluate Page Engagement
• [spp-timestamp time=”19:16″] The Importance of Asynchronous Communication to Business Success
• [spp-timestamp time=”21:20″] Getting User Feedback from DocSend
• [spp-timestamp time=”21:57″] What Feedback Are You Missing with Email Attachments?
• [spp-timestamp time=”23:40″] DocSend’s Feedback Is Easier Than PDFs
• [spp-timestamp time=”24:24″] Using DocSend for Remote Live Presentations
• [spp-timestamp time=”25:55″] DocSend’s Live Present Advantages over Screen Sharing Apps
• [spp-timestamp time=”27:35″] DocSend’s Highlighting and Cursor Tools
• [spp-timestamp time=”28:00″] DocSend’s Advantages over WebEx
• [spp-timestamp time=”28:42″] DocSend’s Origin Story
• [spp-timestamp time=”29:33″] How DocSend’s Team of Founders Met
• [spp-timestamp time=”31:55″] How DocSend’s Founders Entered the Industry
• [spp-timestamp time=”34:20″] The Character of DocSend’s CEO – Russ Heddleston
• [spp-timestamp time=”35:20″] The “Perfect Co-Founding Team” According to Dave McClure
• [spp-timestamp time=”35:48″] Brainstorming the Idea of DocSend
• [spp-timestamp time=”36:14″] Finding the Need
• [spp-timestamp time=”37:06″] The Need-Finding Hustle
• [spp-timestamp time=”39:16″] DocSend’s Dachshund Delivery Service Marketing Campaign
• [spp-timestamp time=”40:28″] Building with Heroku
• [spp-timestamp time=”41:07″] Scaling with Heroku
• [spp-timestamp time=”42:25″] Real-Time Messaging with Off-the-Shelf Components
• [spp-timestamp time=”43:09″] DocSend and User Privacy
• [spp-timestamp time=”43:40″] DocSend’s Experience Working with Ruby on Rails
• [spp-timestamp time=”44:30″] DocSend’s Experience Creating a Website with Bootstrap
• [spp-timestamp time=”44:57″] Funding: Seed Round and Series A
• [spp-timestamp time=”45:42″] The Future of DocSend – Upcoming Developments
• [spp-timestamp time=”46:36″] DocSend’s First Conference Experience
• [spp-timestamp time=”47:19″] Dave Koslow’s Personal Influences
• [spp-timestamp time=”51:18″] Conclusion